Northey and Two More Nominated for USDA Posts

Three more nominations for key posts at USDA were made Friday as Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue remains the only Trump nominee approved in the department.

“I’m hoping that the Senate can move very quickly on the ones before them when they get back,” said Perdue during a stop at Farm Progress Show last week. “I need some help and I hope we get it sooner rather than later.”

On Friday, President Trump announced Gregory Ibach as Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP), Bill Northey as Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC), and Stephen Vaden as USDA’s General Counsel. They join the previous three nominees announced in July – Steve Censky for Deputy Secretary, and Under Secretaries Ted McKinney for Trade and Foreign Affairs, and Sam Clovis for Research, Education, and Economics.

Audio file: Perdue comments on need for Senate confirmations

It was reported in May that Northey would be nominated for the newly created Farm Production and Conservation mission area to oversee FSA, RMA, and NRCS.

During an interview at Farm Progress Show two days before he was officially nominated, Northey said he hoped the Senate approval process will move forward soon. “It’s been a slow process,” said Northey. “Hopefully there will be three more here pretty soon.”

Northey is a farmer from Spirit Lake, Iowa who has served as Iowa ag secretary for three terms and is a former president of the National Corn Growers Association. Greg Ibach has been Nebraska’s Director of Agriculture since 2005, and Vaden has been serving as Acting General Counsel at USDA since March.

Audio file: Northey comments on need for Senate confirmations

2017 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

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EPA Waiver Should Relax Other E15 Restrictions

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is pleased with the EPA waiver this week of the summer low volatility gasoline requirement for 12 states due to concerns about fuel shortages from Hurricane Harvey, but they believe the agency should go further to relax other restrictions on the sale of 15% ethanol blended fuel (E15).

In a letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, RFA requested that EPA clarify that its waiver includes the requirements such as EPA pre-approval of Misfueling Mitigation Plans (MMPs) prior to selling the fuel. “Compliance with such requirements would make it virtually impossible for E15 blends to help alleviate the current supply shortages,” RFA explained in its letter.

“The impacts of Hurricane Harvey will soon be felt along the Atlantic Coast as refinery closures and pipeline disruptions are beginning to affect the region’s gasoline supply,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “The U.S. ethanol industry has ample supplies already stored throughout the country and our supply is not dependent upon pipelines. Ethanol is also about $0.50 per gallon less expensive than gasoline at the terminal today, and the spread is widening every hour. If marketers have the option to begin offering E15 immediately, without having to wait for months while EPA reviews and approves Misfueling Mitigation Plans and other regulatory hurdles to E15’s commercial availability, consumers will be given an important relief valve to gasoline supply disruptions.”

E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, RFS

Biofuels Voices Comment on RFS Rule

Cindy Zimmerman

The comment period for the EPA’s proposed volume obligations for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has officially ended and stakeholders in both the biodiesel and ethanol industries made their voices heard.

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) submitted comments “urging the agency to finalize the RVOs that were included in EPA’s first draft of the proposal that was submitted for interagency review in May.” EPA’s initial draft proposed RVO requirements of 384 million gallons for cellulosic biofuel, 4.38 billion gallons of advanced biofuel; and 19.38 billion of total renewable fuel, higher than what the agency ultimately proposed in July.

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) comments emphasized the economic benefits of the RFS, use of the general waiver authority, the potential of a future “reset” of the RFS, and the advanced and cellulosic biofuel levels.

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) called for higher volumes of advanced biofuels and biomass-based diesel, which were cut or frozen in the proposal. NBB asked EPA to increase the advanced biofuel volume for 2018 to at least 4.75 billion gallons and the biomass-based diesel volume for 2019 to at least 2.5 billion gallons.

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) comments asked EPA to maintain the proposed amount of conventional ethanol blended into the nation’s gas supply for 2018, and to raise the amount of cellulosic, advanced, and total biofuels.

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association commented that EPA should “follow the law” and set a 2.75 billion gallon biodiesel level and a 384 million gallon cellulosic level in the final rule.

ACE, advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, corn, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NBB, RFA, RFS

House Ag Committee at #FPS17

LtoR: Reps. Glenn Thompson, Mike Bost, Mike Conaway, Darin LaHood, Collin Peterson, Cheri Bustos, Rodney Davis

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX), Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN) and members of the committee hosted a farm bill listening session at the Farm Progress Show Thursday in Decatur, Illinois. It was the fifth such session the committee has held so far.

“This was a terrific listening session that will benefit us as we write the next farm bill,” said Chairman Conaway at a press conference following the session.

“Today’s listening session was a continuation of the Agriculture Committee’s efforts to hear directly from the varied interests, across all regions of the country, who are impacted by the farm bill,” said Ranking Member Peterson.

Others who took part in the listening session were Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania, and Illinois Representatives Mike Bost, Darin LaHood, Cheri Bustos, and Rodney Davis.

House Ag Committee presser

View and download photos from the event here: 2017 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

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Secretary Sonny Visits Farm Progress Show

It was a packed house for our Secretary of Agriculture as he was hosted by WGN and ADM during the 2017 Farm Progress Show. Sec. Sonny Perdue visted with ag and local media prior to taking the stage. Naturally, trade was a hot topic followed by Hurricane Harvey and an update from D.C.

Listen to or download the complete press gaggle here: Sec Sonny Talks w/ Media

Then the Secretary joined farm broadcasters Orion Samuelson and Max Armstrong on the ADM stage to record a segment for this weekend’s episode of This Week in Agribusiness. Listen to their chat here: Orion & Max Chat w/ Sec Sonny

View and download photos from the event here: 2017 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

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EPA Emergency Waiver Expanded

Cindy Zimmerman

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) expanded an emergency fuel waiver of the summer low volatility gasoline requirement to 12 states on Wednesday in response to concerns about fuel shortages from Hurricane Harvey.

EPA has waived requirements for reformulated gasoline and low volatility gasoline through September 15 in Alabama, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Louisiana and Florida, as well as the District of Columbia. The waiver means that those states will be allowed to sell 15 percent ethanol before the September 15 end of the summer volatility requirement.

Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen wrote a letter to EPA Administration Scott Pruitt on Monday requesting the waiver. “This allows for the sale of E15 in those conventional gasoline areas of the states covered by the waiver and is effectively what we asked of the agency on Monday,” said Dinneen. “Retailers must still meet or be deemed complaint with other regulatory requirements associated with selling E15, such as the Misfueling Mitigation Plan (MMP). But consumers facing likely gasoline supply issues as a result of Hurricane Harvey are one important step closer today to a high octane, low cost alternative.”

RFA and other ethanol interests have been working to get a permanent waiver for E15 in the summer months or a legislative fix to allow it.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Bayer and 4-H Launch Science Matters Collaboration

Bayer and 4H alums celebrate Science Matters partnership

Opening day of the Farm Progress Show, Bayer and the National 4-H Council announced a new partnership for future innovators in science and technology to help feed a growing population. The nationwide collaboration, Science Matters, is designed to address the need for an enhanced STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) workforce by planting a love of scientific exploration in young people around the nation.

Alumni of the youth organization within Bayer joined to celebrate the announcement. “The ability to reach out to youth across America and have a conversation about science and its connection to food and agriculture, there really is no better partner than 4H,” said 4H alum and Bayer North American Vice President of Communications Darren Wallis.

“In 4-H, we believe in the power of young people, and we are thrilled to join with a company like Bayer that also sees the potential when you equip youth with the skills and opportunities they need to be true leaders,” said Artis Stevens, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, National 4-H Council.

Learn more about the partnership in this interview with Wallis and Stevens:
Interview with Darren Wallis, Bayer and Artis Stevens, 4H

2017 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

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NCGA Officers at #FPS17

LtoR – NCGA first VP elect Lynn Chrisp; President Wesley Spurlock; 1st VP Kevin Skunes

Officers of the National Corn Growers Association are busy at the 2017 Farm Progress Show this week.

I had a chance to chat with NCGA president Wesley Spurlock of Texas, first vice president Kevin Skunes from South Dakota, and 1st VP elect Lynn Chrisp first thing yesterday morning at show. We talked about a variety of topics, including crop conditions – with Wesley providing a Texas update, farm bill wish list, ethanol and the RFS, and more.

Audio file: Interview with NCGA Officers

2017 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

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Iowa RFA Urging Industry Comment on RFS

Cindy Zimmerman

The comment period for the EPA’s proposed volume obligations for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) ends tomorrow, August 31.

For those ethanol and biodiesel industry stakeholders who have not yet submitted comments, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) has an easy way to do so by signing petitions to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.

It’s time to make your voice heard, and tell the EPA that you support a robust RFS! Renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel help curb our dependence on petroleum, improve our air quality and increase competition at the pump to the benefit of consumers.

The petition closes Thursday at 4:30 pm central time – so don’t delay, sign today!

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA, RFS

Welcome to Day 1 of the Farm Progress Show

chuck zimmerman

This morning Jamie and Joanna went up top to get a bird’s eye view of the start of the 2017 Farm Progress Show. We hope to be live when the network allow it so keep you eye on the AgWired page. And, like it if can. We an use all the likes we can get! LOL.

BTW. The official hashtag for this year’s show is #FPS17. Follow along the journey.

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